Long lines at polling station amid surging voter turnout

Many are describing as a surging, possibly record, turnout for midterm elections in the United States, long lines and long average wait times have been reported as Americans cast their vote on Tuesday. After a divisive campaign marked by fierce clashes over race, immigration and other cultural issues, Americans are casting votes on Tuesday to determine the balance of power in the U.S. Congress.

All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, 35 U.S. Senate seats and 36 governorships are up for grabs on Tuesday. Democrats are favored by election forecasters to pick up the minimum of 23 House seats they need for a majority. Republicans are expected to retain their slight majority in the U.S. Senate, currently at two seats, which would let them retain the power to approve U.S. Supreme Court and other judicial nominations on straight party-line votes.